Summer Anthems That We're Embarrassed to Love

Perfect for: Driving around in your convertible with your bros, rocking your puka shell necklace

"Summer Girls" was the jam when it came out, and let's be real; it most definitely still is the jam. The beat is fun and lighthearted, and LFO reminisce about this girl who - I assume only one of them - met one summer, recalling their summer fling. It shouldn't be that difficult to see as to why this is a bit embarrassing to be blasting off your balcony, because, c'mon, they sing about how they like girls who wear Abercrombie and Fitch. It's cheesy in every respect (if you've not seen the video, then you are in for a treat), but goddammit is it ever catchy and feel-good.

Perfect for: GIRLS NIGHT!

So Miley Cyrus has changed a lot since "Party in The USA," but there was a time when this video was considered to be incredibly risque for the young singer. Her current fixation on twerking aside, this is one of those songs that everyone knows the chorus to, and will sing along jokingly, but secretly play it on repeat behind closed doors. Admit it—you've moved your hips like "yeaaaah," and nodded your head like "yeaaaah." This is a pristine slice of pop perfection, whether you like to admit it or not (and, you know you won't).

Perfect for: Mostly just if you're a girl from California

Katy Perry was already ruling the pop tween world with songs like "I Kissed a Girl," "Teenage Dream," and even her weird collaboration with Kanye, "E.T." But it was "California Gurls" and working with Snoop Dogg that gave a whole state of girls their own anthem. This song may not be as embarrassing to listen to if you're from California, but the line "so hot we'll melt your popsicle" hits a level of cheesy that is almost evened-out by Snoop's smooth verse (but not quite).

Perfect for: A middle school dance

To be honest, I don't think this is embarrassing at all, but this song was also incredibly popular when I was in my awkward, gangly, braces stage of life, so I don't really know what's right and what's wrong. I suppose it's embarrassing because it's Nelly, but it's more likely due to the fact that it was played at your middle school dance, chaperones and fruit punch, and when the line "I am getting so hot/I wanna take my clothes off," you just stared at the opposite sex blankly, frozen in a perpetual state of fear. But you've grown out of that stage, so it's time to embrace the shit out of "Hot In Herre."

Perfect for: Your '90s revivalist summer barbecue

Don't be that guy who says that he was always too cool for the Macarana; we all know you're lying. As a 5-year-old kid, I was one maca, two maca, three macarena-ing all over the place; I mean, it's impossible for anyone to say that this song wasn't a national phenomenon. As we all know, though, it didn't really have any lasting power beyond the '90s, and with our ever-churning, Forget Me Now internet cycle being what it is, I have my doubts that the song would hold our interest for more than a couple weeks if it dropped today. That being said, whenever I'm lucky enough to hear the familiar calls of that clave-infused, flamenco-pop hit again, I have no shame in breaking out the old dance moves. I know that the Macarena is completely past the point of being considered cool, and doesn't even have a shot at being retro, but as long as we all know that we look like idiots when we yell out, "Heeeey Macarena!" then let's just all agree to have fun with it.

Perfect for: An all-ages block party

It's almost 15 years later, and no one has come up with an answer to Baha Men's question, "Who Let The Dogs Out?" But the complete ridiculousness of the song's theme is masked by the tropical, festive tune, and you can't help but bark along. It's obnoxious as hell, but hey, considering what the current landscape of music looks like, you're quite limited as to what you could include in your all-ages block party playlist. That's the only pass you get for playing "Who Let The Dogs Out" in public, though.

Perfect for: Late night summer drives

Kings of Leon were considered to be a cool band for a hot minute—or wait was it even that long? Either way, when did the idea that someone's "sex" was "on fire" seem ilke a romantic, sensual or even logical phrase? Still, the anthematic, sweeping choruses make this song bearable on those breezy summer nights driving down the freeway under the stars—just don't scrutinize the lyrics too closely.

Perfect for: A hot night in the Dirty South

During the ATL's post-crunk and pre-trap phase, the city's music scene found its Next Big Thing in snap music. It's hard to believe that snap-rap was so popular for awhile, but, just to remind everyone, it was in fact very, very popular. Dem Franchize Boys, Yung Joc, Soulja Boy... now that I think about it, I distinctly remember being convinced in eighth grade that New Joc City was one of the greatest rap albums of all time, just on the strength of "It's Goin' Down," "Dope Boy Magic," and "I Know You See It." Yikes.

Anyway, one of the premiere singles that emerged during this period of time was D4L's "Laffy Taffy," a snap music classic armed with a beat that popped like digital bubblegum and lyricism that aimed for the perfect balance between sour and sweet. Is it embarrassing to love this undeniably terrible song? Sure. But when it comes on, you're still more than welcome to call me Mr. Chik-O-Stick.

Perfect for: Blasting out of your boombox on a beach date

Justin Timberlake's hotly anticipated second solo album FutureSex/LoveSounds sparked a number of chart-toppers and radio hits, but "Summer Love" takes the cake. A song that's so brightly optimistic about the future and so sure that the romance is lasting does become a little embarrassing in its own right. It also doesn't really sound as good if you're not in the throes of love yourself. But, if you are, this summer-centric love song will have you swooning all through the sunny season. Just don't let your friends see you lip-syncing along with JT with sincere passion.

Perfect for: A soundtrack to your summer barbecue

Even when you're an adult and summer no longer stands for capital S "Summer"—as in no school, no responsibilities and freedom—there's a certain allure to this sunny season that promises fun and happiness. We know, we know — listening to washed-up, metal-heavy rock bands is generally reserved for dads in lawn chairs and die-hard cult fans. However, occasionally throwing on something by Alice Cooper or Mötley Crüe would add a '70s hard rock edge to any summer playlist that will at least earn you some historical cred.

Perfect for: Dancing and pre-gaming alone at home

"Somebody call 9-1-1 / Shorty fire burnin' on the dancefloor"—really Sean? Equating your boo's hotness to an actual emergency is a pretty far-reaching hyperbole, even from the guy who already compared being in love with a really attractive girl to suicide. When you're all alone, prepping for a summer night full of no regrets, putting on a song this absurd is a go-to move. Kingston's Jamaican influences are sure to get anyone moving, even if the only time we're not embarrassed to be seen listening to him is alone at home.

Perfect for: Riding around and showing off on your jetski

Gwen Stefani is pretty much the queen of guilty pleasure singles. Her first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby, was packed with shamefully awesome songs like "Hollaback Girl" and "What Are You Waiting For." It was no different during her time with No Doubt, when she and her ska rock bandmates from Anaheim, CA took the pop scene by storm with body-movers like "It's My Life," "Hey Baby" and "Just A Girl."

Out of all of their hits, though, "Hella Good" will always stand above the rest. Done collaboratively with The Neptunes, the track is irresistible (even against our better instincts) for its urgent, industrial-pop drone and Stefani's puncturing, breathy vocals. The video is a strange, Cali-punk fantasy that finds the band making a home out an abandoned freighter and tearing it apart like Somali pirates. Then they're riding around on jetskis? I don't know. In any case, grab a Seadoo of your own and go crazy.

Perfect for: Pumping up before a girls' night out

Crime Mob held their own as a mixed gender hip-hop act, but "Stilleto (Pumps)" was definitely the group's peak anthem. There are a few times when this song works as a summer jam—even an embarrassing one—due to its nearly abrasive nature. It is ostensibly a song about high heels at a dance club, so what better time to play it than when getting pumped up (no pun intended, HA) for a night out getting down in the club? Seriously, even if you listen to it in jest at first, it will start to grow on you as a swaggering girl power tune with a killer beat.

Perfect for: Karaoke with friends who don't mind hearing your best "a whooo hooo!"

Alright, this song is definitely embarrassing. The trilling harmony of "don't bring me down.... GROOOSS" is hilariously hammed-up and did not age well at all. What did age well, however, is ELO's artsy electro-pop, which honestly helped pave the way for the popularity of modern acts like MGMT and Passion Pit. Who knows, maybe one day our kids will be karoaking "Time to Pretend" and mocking some singular sonic element that will define it as so "2000s." Until that happens, let's just keep belting out ELO at our own karaoke bars and giggling at every silly ad-lib.

Perfect for: Turning up the radio

It may be with a bit of sheepishness that people nowadays admit that they like Hall & Oates (I am one of those very people), but back in the day, this was the fourth number one single that the duo had on the Billboard Hot 100! They were it. The BMI cites that this song is one of the few songs that has been played over a million times on the radio, hell, it even topped the R&B/Urban charts, which is a very rare feat for two nerdy looking white guys, and was even more unusual in 1981 when it first came out. So when this song comes on your stereo during the summer, whether it be on old-fashioned radio or newer interpolations like Pandora or someone else's Spotify account on shuffle, turn it up and bask in its glorious popular history, even for a minute or two.

Perfect for: Dancing to at an '80s theme night

Sometimes in the summer, we're more inclined to do embarrassing or slightly dorky things. Like, say, going to an '80s-themed party or night out and getting on the dance floor dressed in wacky clothes from that decade. If this is a situation you ever happen to find yourself in, make sure to make your way to whatever ill-fashioned DJ booth has popped up at said event, and beg the DJ to play "Take on Me." There's truly nothing better to soundtrack your dorky '80s inspired moves than the Norwegian falsetto of Morten Harket crooning along above some synthy, new wave sounds.